Sirl: I'll beat Gers for Czech mate

May 11 2008

RADEK SIRL has an extra reason to dump Rangers in the UEFA Cup final - he's pals with former Celt Jiri Jarosik.

Zenit St Petersburg's Czech Republic midfielder became a fan of the Hoops when old Sparta Prague team-mate Jarosik was at Parkhead.

He said: "I've never had the chance to move to Scotland but I watched the game closely when Jiri signed for Celtic.

"I played with him at Sparta Prague so it would be good to beat Rangers - I'm sure that would make him happy.

"I wasn't in contact with Jiri during his time in Glasgow but I suppose you get an affection for certain teams when there are players there you know so I was a Celtic fan."

Sirl insists Zenit have nothing to fear from Rangers after dumping some big guns on their march to the final in Manchester.

He said: "We have beaten the likes of Bayern Munich and Villarreal so we shouldn't fear anything.

"I don't know much about Rangers but we played them in a friendly at Ibrox not so long ago and won 4-1 and Dick Advocaatwill tell us everything in the build-up to the match."